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No. 6l7,078. Patented Jan. 3, I899. J. E. CARTER & S. A. WRIGHT. MACHINE FUR TAPPING NUTS,

(Application filed May 20, 1898.) (N0 Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet I.

No. 6|7,078. Patented Jan. 3, I899 J. E. CARTER & S. ILWBIGHT.

MACHINE FUR TAPPING NUTS.

(Application filed May 20, 1898.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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N0. 6l7,078. Patented Jan. 3, l89l9.

' J. E. CARTER &. S. A. WRIGHT.

MACHINE FOR TAPPING NUTS.

(Application filed May 20, 1898.)

(No ModeI s .ShetsSheet 3.

Hllmmn lTED dramas JAMES EDWARD CARTER AND SAM AYRTON WRIGHT, OF HALIFAX, ENGLAND.

MACHINE FOR TAPPING NUTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 617,078, dated January 3, 1899.

Application filed May 20, 1898. Serial No. 681,205. (No model.)

T (1. whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JAMES EDWARD CAR- run and SAM AYnroN WRIGHT, subjects of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Halifax, in the county of York, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Tapping Nuts; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. 7

This invention relates to mechanism for tapping nuts in rapid succession without removing the tap or stopping the machine.

The object of our invention is to produce improved mechanism for actuating and looking the grippers which grip and rotate the tap and for locking the plunger or feeder which feeds the nuts over the tap and to provide simple and self-acting mechanism for giving an alternate slow and fast traverse to the tapcarrying spindle.

To the aforesaid purpose our invention consists in the novel and peculiar arrangement, construction, and operation of the parts of the mechanism, all as hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating our invention, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a nut-tapping machine embodying our invention, the front half of the cylinder or cambOX being removed to show the interior thereof more plainly. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of arrow a, same figure. Fig. 3 is an enlarged section, taken on line Z) Z) of Fig. 1, of the cylinder or cam-box and parts working in same. Fig. 4 is a plan taken on line 0 c of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a plan taken on line at d of Fig. 1, and Fig. 6 is a plan View of the plunger or nut-feeder.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents a hollow spindle having at its upper end an enlarged head 1. The spindle 1 is carried by a worm-wheel 2, having extended bosses on its upper and lower faces, which are journaled in bearings 3 4c in the frame 5 of the machine. The worm-wheel 2 is provided with a key which fits in the groove or slot 1 in the spindle 1 and secures the two parts together rotatively, while allowing to the spindle 1 perfect freedom of movement vertically. Fast on a shaft 6, located at the rear of the spindle and journaled in bearings 7 in the frame 5, is a worm 8, which meshes with the worm-wheel 2 and gives motion to said worm-wheel to rotate the spindle 1, the shaft 6 being driven by a belt passing around pulley 9, fast on said shaft. 10 is a loose pulley, and 11 is a V- grooved pulley which by cord or band imparts motion to the pump (not shown) for supplying lubricant through pipe 12 to tap and nut.

Arranged diametrically in the head 1 of the hollow spindle 1 are two pairs of grippers namely, an upper pair 13 13 and a lower pair 14 11-11116 distance between the two said pairs of grippers being sufficient to accommodate at least the full depth of a nut, for the reason hereinafter explained. These grippers coinprise cylindrical bars or rods which are adapted to slide longitudinally within certain limits in recesses 15 15 and 16 16 formed in the head 1 the inner ends of said grippers being smaller in diameter than the outer ends and extending into corresponding reduced openings in the ends of the recesses 15 15 16 1G. Surrounding the smaller diameter of the grippers and confined between shoulders 13 13 14 14; and the inner ends of the recesses 15 15 16 16 are spiral springs 17 17 and 18 18 for forcing the grippers apart and clear of the interior of the spindle when they are released. The inner extremities of the grippers are cut V shape to fit against two sides of squares formed on the shank 19 of tap 19, as shown clearly at Fig. at.

Surrounding the head 1 of the spindle 1 is a fixed or stationary cylinder or cam-box 20, which is made in two halves, whereof one is formed integral with or is secured to the frames 5, while the other or front half is secured to the opposing half by nuts and bolts 21, passed through openings in the flanges 20. The middle or central portion of the interior of the cylinder or cam-box 20 is bored. to receive the head 1, which fits nicely and is free to slide up and down therein, this and a central portion being approximately equal in depth to the lift of the spindle 1, and at the upper and lower extremities thereof the walls diverge in the form of two cones having their smaller ends adjacent to each other and forming cam-surfaces and 20 for actuating, respectively, the upper and lower pairs of grippers 13 13 14 14.

In the sides of the grippers 13 13 14 14 are cut Vertical semicircular recesses adapted to receive segments of the circumference of bosses or collars 22 22 23 23 on vertical spindles 22 22 23 23, respectively, which are supported in openings in the head 1 of the hollow spindle 1, the spindles 22 22 extending up some distance above the head 1, said spindles 22 22 being shown longer than necessary for the purpose of better illustrating same, and the spindles 23 23 projecting a short distance below said head 1, the former having spiral springs confined under the bosses or collars thereon and the latter having spiral springs confined above the bosses or collars thereon, whereby when the said spindles are released on the grippers being forced up to the tap-shank and bringing the semicircular recesses opposite the collars or bosses the latter will at once be caused to enter and engage with same by the expan sion of the springs and will look the grippers concerned in position and hold of the shank, as shown at Figs. 3 and 4, in respect of the upper pair of grippers. The locking of the grippers, as above, when hold of the tapshank relieves the pressure, with which the grippers by reason of the tension of the confined and compressed springs thereon would otherwise press against the walls of the cylinder 20, the friction and wear between the ends of the grippers and the walls of the cylinder 20 being thus minimized.

Over the tap 19 and central therewith is the nut-holder base 24, under which the nut 25 to be tapped is presented by the plunger or feeder-bar26, which supports it until the tap ping process is completed. This plunger is provided with a forked end recessed to the shape of a nut, (see Fig. 6,) and it slides in ways in the head 5 of the frame 5, being forced forward to bring a nut into position for tapping by the end 27 of a lever 27, pivoted on a stud 28, whose opposite end 27 is curved or U-shaped and is adapted to be engaged at its extremity by the under face of the head 1 on descending, the said plunger being returned or drawn back again when released, as afterward explained, by a spiral spring 29, secured at one end to a stud fast to the plunger and at the opposite end to a stud secured to a lug or projection 30 on the head 5 of the frame 5.

\Vhen withdrawn to its outer position, the recessed end of the plunger 26 lies immediately under the hopper 31, containinga supply-column of nuts, the lowest one of which falls into the recess, so that when the end 27 of lever 27 is engaged by the head 1 of the spindle on the downward movement of the latter it moves said lever in the direction of arrow f and pushes the plunger forward in the same direction until the nut 25 is brought directly over the tap 19, when movement ceases and the plunger is locked in its abnormal position by a shoulder on a spindle 32, which is forced by means of a confined spiral spring 33 into a recess 34, made in the'side of the plunger.

The spindle 32 extends below the head of the frame and is engaged by the head 1 of the spindle 1, as the latter is completing its upward movement, the result being that the spindle is raised against the resistance of spring 33 and the shoulder thereon placed clear of the plunger 26, which is immediately drawn back by spring 29 to receive another nut from the hopper 31. Any excess of movement of lever 27 or plunger 26 is taken up by a spring 35, confined on a stud carried by said lever. The hopper 31 has a sight-hole 31 to enable the column of nuts to be seen at a glance. These are in general the essential parts of the apparatus for holding and rotating the tap and supplying the nuts one after the other for tapping same, those to which important novelty is attached being the stationary or fixed cam-box or cylinder, the locking devices for locking the grippers when closed, and the locking device for locking the plunger or nut-feeder bar. The second feature of our invention is in providing simple and self-acting mechanism for giving a slow upward stroke and the hollow spindle 1 when tapping and aquick return or downward stroke.

Journaled in bearings in brackets 36 37, secured to the frame 5, is a vertical screw 38, whose pitch is relatively proportioned to the pitch of the tap in order that the progress of the tap through the nut will be positively insured without any pull or drag upon the tap or upon the nut. The said screw 38 extends through a nut 39, secured to the bottom of spindle 1, and has secured rotatively on its lower end a sliding double-clutch boss 40, which is adapted to be engaged with one or the other of two opposing clutches 41 42 on the bosses of toothed wheels 41 42, mounted loosely on the screw-shaft. The wheel 41 meshes directly with a toothed wheel 43, fast on an auxiliary shaft 44, journaled in bearings in the brackets 36 37, and the wheel 42, with an intermediate pinion 45, in mesh with a pinion 46, also fast 011 said shaft 44. The shaft 44 has mounted on its upper end a toothed wheel 47, meshing with a toothed wheel 48, secured to the lower extending boss of the worm-wheel 2, and motion is thus communicated through said gears 48 47 from the worm-wheel 2 to the shaft 44, which rotates the two sets of gears 43 41 and 46 42. When the sliding clutch -boss 40 occupies its middle position clear of both opposing clutches 41 42, the wheels 41 42 run idly on the screw-shaft, which remains stationary; but when it is slid into engagement with one or the other of said opposing clutches the wheel of which it forms a part is locked to the screw-shaft, which is thus rotated in one direction or the other, as the case may be, and either fast or slow, the gears 41 43 giving a quick motion and the gears 42 45 a slow motion. For the purpose of changing the speed and direction of rotation of the screw 38 self-actingly at the proper times, a vertical rod 49 is attached to the forked lever 50, which is central at 51 and provided at its extremities with studs which engage an an nular neck or recess 52 in the sliding clutchboss 40. The said rod 49 passes through a lug 53 on the nut 39,which supports it throughout the upward and downward stroke of the spindle 1, collars 54 and 55 being placed on the rod 49 at suitable heights so as to be engaged by the lug 53 on the spindle 1, completing its upward and downward strokes, the said collars yielding against the resistance of springs 54 55, confined between them and nuts 54 55 to take up any excess movement there may be. 011 the stud 51 is mounted a weighted lever 56 to insure the full movement of the sliding clutch-boss into gear with either of the opposing clutches.

In commencing to tap a nut the parts are in the positions shown on the drawings, the spindle 1 being at its lowest position and the sliding clutch-boss engaged with the clutch 42. The screw 38 is therefore driven at a slow speed through the train of gearing 42 46 and causes the nut 39, with the spindle 1, to rise to the full limit to force the tap 19 through the nut 25, the spindle 1 at the same time being rotated by worm 8 and wheel 2 and by means of the grippers rotating the tap. As the spindle rises the lower grippers 14 14 ride up the cam surface 20, which forces them forward into the bore of the spindle and against the square at the bottom of the tap-shank, whereupon they are locked by the bosses 23 on the vertical spindles 23 23. The tap, which up to this point has been supported by the upper grippers only, is now held by both pairs of grippers until the tapping of the nut nears completion, at which time the ends of spindles 22 22 en gage the head 5 of the frame 5, and being forced downward by the continued upward movement of the spindle 1 they place the bosses 22 22 thereon clear of the recesses in the sides of the grippers 13 13, which are thus released in time to be forced outwardly against the cam-surface 20 by the springs 17 17, and thus placed clear of the interior of the spindle 1, the lower grippers retaining their hold of the shank of the tap. On being released by the withdrawal of plunger 26 by spring 29, said plunger having meanwhile been set free by the head 1 striking the spindle 32 and forcing it upward, so that the shoulder thereon is elevated clear of the recess 34, the nut 25 falls down over the shank of the tap onto the said lower pair of grippers, where it remains until they are opened. In completing the upward stroke the lug 53 on nut 39 strikes against the collar 54 on rod 49 and raises said rod with it the distance required to slide the clutch-boss 40 out of mesh with clutch 42 and into mesh with clutch 41, whereby the direction of rotation of the screw '38 is changed and its speed accelerated, so that the spindle and parts carried thereby make the downward or return stroke more quickly. As the spindle 1 descends the grippers 13 13 are closed upon the shank of the tap by cam-surface 20, while the head 1 of the spindle engages the end 27 of lever 27, moving it upon its fulcrum, as indicated by the arrow, the end 27 bearing against the plunger 26 and forcing it forward, so that it carries another nut from the hopper to the position over the tap in readiness for the next upward movement of the spindle 1. The lower grippers 14 14 when nearing the cam-surface 20 are unlocked or released by the spindles 23 23 engaging the bearing 3, which forces them upward and moves the bosses 23 thereon clear of the recesses in the sides of said grippers, which are thereupon forced against the cam-surface 20 by springs 18 18 and opened out to the full, whereby the tapped nut which has been resting thereon falls down the hollow spindle 1 into a receptacle (not shown) placed underneath, the tapped nuts thus being discharged without removing the tap or stopping the machine. W'hen the spindle arrives at its lowest position again, the lug 53 strikes the collar and depresses rod 49, which moves the clutch-boss 40 out of gear with clutch 41 and into gear with clutch 42, whereupon the motion of the screw is again changed to elevate the spindle 1 and its speed reduced.

The trains of gears 41 43 and 42 45 46 may be changed for other wheels to alter or vary the speeds to suit requirements.

A number of hollow spindles with the parts described may be arranged side by side in one machine, the shaft 6 being made longer and worms secured thereon to drive the wormwheel on each spindle. In such multiple machine a range of taps can be used and a series of nuts of different sizes tapped at one time and under the supervision of one attendant.

o claim as our invention- 1. In a nut-tapping machine, the combination, with a guide, a plunger slidable in the guide and provided with grippers for holding the tap, and springs which normally force the grippers against the guide; of locking devices for holding the grippers when forced toward each other, thereby relieving the said guide from the pressure of the grippers, sub stantially as set forth.

2. In a nut-tapping machine, the combination, with a guide, a plunger slidable in the guide and provided with grippers for holding the tap, and springs which normally force the grippers against the guide; of spring-operated locking-spindles slidable in the said plunger transversely of the grippers and automatically engaging with grooves in the said grippers when same are forced toward each other, thereby relieving the said guide from the pressure of the grippers, and stops for moving the said locking-spindles longitudinally as the plunger approaches one end of its stroke, thereby releasing the grippers, substantially as set forth.

3. Ina nut-tapping machine, the combination, with a frame, and a slide for placing the nuts one by one in a position to be tapped; of a guide connected with the said frame, a plunger slidable in the said guide and provided with grippers for holding the tap, means for reciprocating the said slide intermittently, and a spring-operated locking-spindle carried by the said frame and engaging with the slide when at one end of its stroke, said spindle being moved out of engagement with the slide by the said plunger as same approaches one end of its stroke, substantially as set forth.

4. In a nut-tapping machine, the combination, with a stationary cylindrical guide having conical portions at its ends; of a plunger slidable longitudinally and revoluble in the said guide, grippers carried by the said plunger and moved into engagement with the tap by contact with the said conical portions, and driving mechanism for sliding and revolving the said plunger, substantially as set forth.

5. In nut-tapping machines, the combination with a hollow spindle carrying grippers which hold the tap vertically, of mechanism for giving a slow upward movement and a quick downward movement to the hollow spindle said mechanism comprising a nut on the said hollow spindle, a screw working through the nut, toothed wheels mounted loosely on the screw gearing with toothed wheels deriving motion from an auxiliary shaft a sliding clutch-boss on the screw adapted to be engaged with opposing clutches on one or other of toothed wheels on the screw, aclutch-fork leverto actuate said clutch-boss a rod connected to said lever to operate it as required said rod having distance-collars thereon adapted to be engaged at the upper and lower limits of motion of the hollow spindle by a lug projecting from the nut on the spindle and surrounding said rod, and gears for transmitting rotary motion from the spindle to the auxiliary shaft substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES EDWARD CARTER. SAM AYRTON WRIGHT.

\Vitnesses:

J NO. HERBERT GREENWOOD, FRANK LEWIN. 

